Published on Jan, 2024
My family and I went on this tour while staying with Susan Bui for one night during our trip around Vietnam and Cambodia and it was a highlight of our holiday. We would give Susan 6 stars if we could; we cannot recommend her enough. If you’re thinking of doing the Mekong Delta tour, Susan’s homestay would definitely be worth your while.
Even though Susan’s home is only a short drive (arranged by our host) from Can Tho, it feels entirely different. It’s a great break from the busyness of cities like Ho Chi Minh. Susan’s brother Nick brought us on a (very easy) bike tour of the area, including a stop at the market to buy ingredients for dinner, and it felt like we were seeing the real lives of the locals.
The accommodation itself is great - a very peaceful area, and the rooms were lovely (the mosquito nets were especially appreciated). Preparing and eating dinner together was absolutely enjoyed by all.
Susan’s boat tour down the Hau River in the morning involves an early start (5.30am) but it’s well worth it to see the floating markets at their busiest and to enjoy breakfast on the river. The other stops on the tour were just as interesting, and Susan is a fantastic guide - very informative and engaging.
Easily the best aspect of our experience, however, was Susan’s accommodation of my severe peanut allergy. Travelling in Vietnam can be difficult, because peanuts and peanut oil are so common, so there’s a cultural as well as a language barrier to overcome. The early leg of our trip involved a lot of McDonald’s. Not only did Susan take my allergy into account when providing us with lunch and when we got to make dinner with her, but she also ensured that the restaurant we visited for lunch after the boat trip cooked my meal in a substitute oil. We would recommend Susan’s homestay for everyone, but especially people with food allergies or intolerances. It was great to be able to try Vietnamese cooking without any stress or fear.
Last of all, after we had parted ways with Susan, our bus to HCMC broke down before leaving Can Tho. We got in touch with Susan and she arranged a replacement bus on short notice (on NYE) and had us on the road within 40 minutes of us calling her. She really went above and beyond, and we couldn’t thank her enough.
Tl;dr: if you are interested in doing the Mekong Delta Discovery Tour would highly recommend staying with Susan, especially for those with food allergies.
